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NY Congressional Delegation Urges President-Elect Trump to Consider Disastrous Consequences of ACA Repeal on New York State

January 18, 2017

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 18 members of the New York Congressional Delegation urged President-elect Donald Trump to consider the catastrophic negative impacts a repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could have on New York State as Republicans continue to dismantle this landmark law. A repeal of the ACA would cause more than 2.7 million New Yorkers to lose health insurance coverage while throwing our entire health care system into chaos.

“From Manhattan to Massena, New Yorkers reject this starkly ideological plan to repeal the ACA that would throw our entire health care system into disarray and not solve the real problems that families face. We will not stand idly by as the President-elect inflicts a great wound on the people of New York that we are sworn to represent and protect. We implore Mr. Trump to stop playing politics with the lives of our constituents and stop efforts to repeal this life-saving law,” the members of Congress wrote.

A repeal of the Affordable Care Act would be devastating for hospitals in the state, and would cause a $24 billion budget shortfall. Rural hospitals in particular would be under enormous financial pressure and could be forced to close their doors, leaving many without access to care. In addition, families would again be subject to annual and lifetime limits and could be denied care for a pre-existing condition. Due to a reopening of the donut hole, which the ACA closes, New York seniors would face an increase in prescription drug costs totaling $1,195 annually for each beneficiary.

Text of letter and current list of cosigners copied below:

President-Elect Donald J. Trump

Trump Tower

725 5th Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Dear President-Elect Trump,

As fellow New Yorkers, we write to you today to convey the disastrous consequences repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would have on our home state. We implore you to consider both the economic and social impacts of repeal on the businesses and families of New York.

There is no doubt that repeal of the ACA would significantly impact the working families in the state. Repeal would cause over 2.7 million New Yorkers to lose health insurance coverage, including more than 218,000 in your home borough of Manhattan alone. Beyond people directly covered through the New York state insurance exchange, repeal would have devastating consequences to our entire health care system. Repeal means that all families could once again be subject to annual and lifetime limits and could be denied care for a pre-existing condition. Because repeal would reopen the prescription drug donut hole, seniors across the state would face higher prescription drug costs of $1,195 annually.

Additionally, repeal will cause a $24 billion budget shortfall for hospitals across New York state. Rural hospitals, in particular, would be under enormous financial pressure and could have to close their doors, leaving many in these areas without access to care. From Manhattan to Massena, New Yorkers reject this starkly ideological plan to repeal the ACA that would throw our entire health care system into disarray and not solve the real problems that families face.

The people of New York look to their elected representatives to protect their wellbeing. As such, we ought to make every effort to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and the progress it has shepherded for the people of this great state. The Affordable Care Act has reduced the burden of health care costs for hard-working families across New York State, and we implore you to discontinue efforts to repeal this life-saving law.